Who Betrayed Anne Frank? A Lingering Historical Mystery

The story of Anne Frank is one of the most poignant and well-known accounts of the Holocaust. Her diary, The Diary of a Young Girl, offers a deeply personal and humanizing perspective on the atrocities of World War II. However, one question has haunted historians, researchers, and the public for decades: Who betrayed Anne Frank and the others in the Secret Annex?

The Arrest: August 4, 1944

Anne, her family, and four others hid in a concealed annex above Otto Frank’s business in Amsterdam for more than two years. On August 4, 1944, their secret refuge was discovered by the Gestapo, led by SS officer Karl Silberbauer. The Franks and their companions were arrested and later deported to concentration camps. Anne and her sister, Margot, perished in Bergen-Belsen in early 1945. Only Otto Frank survived.

Theories on the Betrayal

Over the years, various theories have emerged regarding who might have informed the Nazis about the hiding place. Some of the main suspects include:

1. Willem van Maaren (Warehouse Employee)

Van Maaren, a warehouse manager who worked in the building where the annex was hidden, was long suspected of betrayal. He was known to be suspicious of unusual activities and asked questions about missing supplies. However, there was never any concrete evidence linking him to the arrest.

2. Lena Hartog (Wife of a Warehouse Employee)

Lena, the wife of another worker in the building, claimed to have seen signs of people living in the annex. She later told investigators that she had suspicions, but it remains unclear whether she directly informed the Nazis.

3. Anton “Tonny” Ahlers (Dutch Nazi Informant)

Ahlers, a known collaborator of the Gestapo, was another suspect. He had connections with Otto Frank before the war and may have had financial motives for turning in the family. However, there is no definitive proof of his involvement.

4. Nelly Voskuijl (Sister of a Helper)

Nelly was the younger sister of Bep Voskuijl, one of Anne’s helpers. Nelly sympathized with the Nazis, and some researchers believe she may have revealed the annex’s location out of resentment or ideological loyalty.

5. Anonymous Tip-off

One of the most recent theories, proposed in a 2022 investigation led by former FBI agent Vincent Pankoke, suggests that Arnold van den Bergh, a Jewish notary, may have been coerced into betraying the Franks to save his own family. The theory, based on Otto Frank’s post-war notes, suggests that van den Bergh provided addresses of Jewish hideouts to the Nazis, but this remains controversial.

The Unsolved Question

Despite numerous investigations, there is no definitive answer to who betrayed Anne Frank. The reality of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam was complex, with informants, collaborators, and accidental leaks all possible factors in the Franks' discovery.

Regardless of who was responsible, the betrayal led to the tragic loss of Anne Frank and millions of others. Yet, her diary endures, ensuring that her voice—and the lessons of history—are never forgotten.